We purchased backpacks for Fathers Fighting 4 Fathers, founded by Markus Trent, which made it possible for Markus and his team to distribute backpacks to all who needed them at their recent back-to-school programs and support their focus on preventing truancy, strengthening family bonds, and engaging parents in their children’s education. Fathers Fighting 4 Fathers is partnering with local fire stations and other community partners in addition to their strong connections with an increasing number of Baltimore schools.

Grantee Pesia’s Kitchen/EAT, founded by Gideon Ben-Ami and led by Yoni Ben-Ami, finished up another wonderful year of impact through their successful school-based programs, which combine education about nutrition, food waste, and food insecurity with actual food distribution to school families and community members in a dignified way. This past year they expanded to reach 16 schools!

August, 2025

As the world shifts beneath our feet – politically, socially, emotionally – we at The Good People Fund remain grounded in our core beliefs: that small actions, rooted in compassion and justice, have the power to change lives. While headlines swirl and crises compound, our work – and the work of the social visionaries we support – remains steady, focused, and deeply human.

In both the United States and Israel, our grantees continue to show up every single day for those most vulnerable. They are doing the sacred work of tzedakah – not just giving, but repairing. And they are doing it in the midst of rising need, growing instability, and often at great personal cost.

Every day is a balancing act: meeting the immediate, urgent needs of people in crisis, while also committing to the slower, often invisible work of long-term change. That’s exactly what our community of changemakers is doing. From Matt and Charmaine of Rekindle setting new tables for bridge-building, to Mark of Medical Justice Alliance fighting for compassionate care for people incarcerated in 40 states, to Kerry at Emma’s Torch, Dana at I Support the Girls, and Fraidy at Unchained at Last – all GPF alumni now replicating and scaling their life-changing models – we are seeing the ripple effect of consistent, values-based investment in good people doing good work.

During the past year, we had the opportunity to reflect on our long-term impact, and we were humbled to discover that we’ve supported over 260 grantees since our founding. That number is more than a data point – it’s a growing community of social visionaries who are reshaping the future, one act of kindness, one system shift at a time.

This month, we’re proud to share the latest episode of our Good People Talk podcast featuring Yurani Sandoval, founder of Women Palante, a fierce advocate for women’s voices and empowerment. The episode, titled “Women Belong in Every Room,” is a powerful reminder that systemic change begins with the bravery of one person bold enough to step forward, even when the room was not built for them.

Through all the turbulence we remain anchored to our mission. Thank you for standing with us, and with the people who continue to make good happen, no matter the storm. They – and we – could not do it without your steadfast support.

Julie

July, 2025

As The Good People Fund’s fiscal year ends today, we welcome new faces and say goodbye to others.

Larry Paul, pictured with me, ends six years as board chair and I am thrilled that he will continue on our board, lending his insight to our work. Our resident “chauffeur” and translator during our Israel visits, Larry has always been a passionate leader and advocate for our mission and impact.

Leaving us is Erik Lindauer, our first board chair and longstanding board member. In 2007, when GPF was taking form, Erik was wise counsel advising us with matters both legal and ethical. Our strong foundation and commitment to excellence and best practices is very much due to his influence. Erik’s friendship and guidance cannot be overstated; he will be missed.

On to the new! Our incoming board chair, Beth Gansky, brings expertise in nonprofit management, along with commitment to tikkun olam, repairing the word … immense assets as we continue to grow and implement our new strategic plan.

Stacey Slater Sacks and Rabbi Neal Gold round out the new talent on our board. Stacey is an attorney and believes deeply in the role of nonprofits in our society today. Neal is an educator deeply conversant in the tenets guiding our work.

Our new board is strong and uniquely suited to help guide GPF from this, our 18th anniversary year, forward. I am deeply grateful. Read our press release here.

On another note, I encourage you to listen to the newest episode of our Good People Talk! podcast. GPF Associate Executive Director Julie Fisher chats with Asaf Zaiden, co-founder of Kaima Hukuk, part of the Kaima network of sustainable organic farms where youth not succeeding in traditional educational settings grow and improve their lives in an agricultural environment. This is impact you make possible.

Finally, our grantees in Israel continue to deal with the impact of October 7th, most recently the traumatic events of the past two weeks. And here in the US, we brace for social safety net and culture changes. With these challenges, we ask you to consider a donation to help us help others.

I hope you have a chance to relax and enjoy some downtime this summer. Thank you for continuing to be part of our efforts to create a better world.

Naomi